Tamil Nadu: 19 AIADMK MLAs show dissent

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New twist in Tamil Nadu politics as 19 MLAs of TTV Dinakaran faction meet Governor C Vidyasagar Rao; Demand changing of guard in Tamil Nadu as they have lost trust in E Palaniswami.

Nineteen MLA's of the TTV Dinakaran faction in the AIADMK on Tuesday met Governor Vidyasagar Rao and submitted separate letters withdrawing support to the Palanisami government reducing it to a minority.

In their letters they said the government had forfeited the confidence of the public following the merger of the OPS and EPS factions on Monday. They apprised him of the recent developments in the AIADMK and sought removal of the Chief Minister as he no longer enjoyed the majority support of the MLA's.

They pointed out that 122 AIADMK MLAs had supported Palaniswami at the behest of jailed party chief VK Sasikala during the February 18 trust vote while Panneerselvam had voted against the government.

They said the chief minister should have held consultations with all the party MLAs before the merger of the two factions.

Of the 234-member Tamil Nadu Assembly, the AIADMK has 134 MLAs excluding the Speaker. Late chief minister Jayalalithaas RK Nagar constituency is still vacant.

Opposition DMK has 89 seats followed by its allies Congress with eight and IUML one.

Meanwhile, Dhinakaran removed the senior leader and Rajya Sabha MP R Vaithilingam from all party posts.